the chiefs were summoned, and came, bringing their fine mats,
which, laid on the body, almost hid the Union jack in which it had been
wrapped. One of the old Mataafa chiefs, who had been in prison, and who
had been one of those who worked on the making of the "Road of the Loving
Heart" (the road of gratitude which the chiefs had made up to Mr
Stevenson's house as a mark of their appreciation of his efforts on their
behalf), came and crouched beside the body and said:

"I am only a poor Samoan, and ignorant. Others are rich, and can give
Tusitala {6} the parting presents of rich, fine mats; I am poor, and
can give nothing this last day he receives his friends. Yet I am not
afraid to come and look the last time in my friend's face, never to
see him more till we meet with God. Behold! Tusitala is dead;
Mataafa is also dead. These two great friends have been taken by God.
When Mataafa was taken, who was our support but Tusitala? We were in
prison, and he cared for us. We were sick, and he made us well. We
were hungry, and he fed us. The day was no longer than his kindness.
You are great people, and full of love. Yet who among you is so great
as Tusitala? What is your love to his love? Our clan was Mataafa's
clan, for whom I speak this day; therein was Tusitala also. We mourn
them both."

A select company of Samoans would not be deterred, and watched by the
body all night, chanting songs, with bits of Catholic prayers; and in the
morning the work began of clearing a path through the wood on the hill to
the spot on the crown where Mr Stevenson had expressed a wish to be
buried. The following prayer, which Mr Stevenson had written and read
aloud to his family only the night before, was read by Mr Clarke in the
service:

"We beseech thee, Lord, to behold us with favour, folk of many
families and nations, gathered together in the peace of this roof;
weak men and women, subsisting under the covert of Thy patience. Be
patient still; suffer us yet a while longer--with our broken purposes
of good, with our idle endeavours against evil--suffer us a while
longer to endure, and (if it may be) help us to do better. Bless to
us our extraordinary mercies; if the day come when these must be
taken, have us play the man under affliction. Be with our friends; be
with ourselves. Go with each of us to rest: if any awake, temper to
them the dark hours of w